Prostamide-containing intraocular implant

ABSTRACT

Prostamide-containing biodegradable intraocular implants, prostamide compounds, prostamide-containing pharmaceutical compositions, and methods for making and using such implants and compositions for the immediate and sustained reduction of intraocular pressure and treatment of glaucoma in an eye of a patient are described.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/868,355, filed May 6, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/894,696, filed Feb. 12, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No.10,668,081, issued Jun. 2, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patentSer. No. 15/075,922, filed Mar. 21, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,889,142,issued Feb. 13, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/211,265, filed Mar. 14, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,289,413,issued Mar. 22, 2016, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 61/798,291, filed Mar. 15, 2013, U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/877,573, filed Sep. 13, 2013, and U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/898,210, filed Oct. 31, 2013, the disclosures ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties and serveas the basis of a priority and/or benefit claim for the presentapplication.

BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to devices and methods to treatan eye of a patient, and more specifically to intraocular implants thatprovide extended release of a therapeutic agent to an eye in which theimplant is placed to treat ocular hypertension, such as by reducing orat least maintaining intraocular pressure (IOP), and to methods ofmaking and using such implants.

Ocular hypotensive agents are useful in the treatment of a number ofvarious ocular hypertensive conditions, such as post-surgical andpost-laser trabeculectomy ocular hypertensive episodes, glaucoma, and aspresurgical adjuncts.

Glaucoma is a disease of the eye often characterized by increasedintraocular pressure. On the basis of its etiology, glaucoma has beenclassified as primary or secondary. For example, primary glaucoma inadults (congenital glaucoma) may be either open-angle or acute orchronic angle-closure. Secondary glaucoma results from pre-existingocular diseases such as uveitis, intraocular tumor or an enlargedcataract.

The increased intraocular tension in glaucoma is due to the obstructionof aqueous humor outflow. In chronic open-angle glaucoma, the anteriorchamber and its anatomic structures appear essentially normal, butdrainage of the aqueous humor is impeded. In acute or chronicangle-closure glaucoma, the anterior chamber is shallow, the filtrationangle is narrowed, and the iris may obstruct the trabecular meshwork atthe entrance of the canal of Schlemm. Dilation of the pupil may push theroot of the iris forward against the angle, and may produce pupillaryblock and thus precipitate an acute attack. Eyes with narrow anteriorchamber angles are predisposed to acute angle-closure glaucoma attacksof various degrees of severity.

Secondary glaucoma is caused by any interference with the flow ofaqueous humor from the posterior chamber into the anterior chamber andsubsequently, into the canal of Schlemm. Inflammatory disease of theanterior segment may prevent aqueous escape by causing completeposterior synechia in iris bombe and may plug the drainage channel withexudates. Other common causes are intraocular tumors, enlargedcataracts, central retinal vein occlusion, trauma to the eye, operativeprocedures and intraocular hemorrhage.

Reduction of intraocular pressure may help to prevent glaucoma or lossof vision due to glaucoma. Currently, eye drops containingtherapeutically active agents for reducing intraocular pressure aregiven to many patients, who may take the drops one or more times a dayto reduce elevated intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma.

It would be advantageous to provide eye implantable drug deliverysystems, such as intraocular implants, and methods of using suchsystems, that are capable of releasing a therapeutic agent, such as ahypotensive (or IOP-lowering) agent, at a sustained or controlled ratefor extended periods of time and in amounts with few or absent negativeside effects to thereby reduce intraocular pressure in an eye of apatient, including but not limited to patients suffering from or at riskof developing glaucoma.

SUMMARY

Extended, long term reduction of intraocular pressure in the eye may beprovided by intraocular administration of one or more of thebiodegradable intraocular implants described herein. A biodegradableintraocular implant according to the present disclosure comprises orconsists of a biodegradable polymer material and a therapeutic agentassociated with the biodegradable polymer material. The implant(s) canbe administered to the eye as monotherapy and may provide thetherapeutic agent directly to an ocular region of the eye in an amounteffective for reducing elevated intraocular pressure (ocularhypertension) in the eye for an extended period, such as, for example,for 1-6 months or more. The implants may also be used to treat orprevent glaucoma or other medical conditions of the eye associated withelevated intraocular pressure.

The therapeutic agent contained by the intraocular implant of thepresent disclosure may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of,a compound that is effective in reducing intraocular pressure in ahypertensive eye. In some embodiments the therapeutic agent comprises orconsists of a compound having Formula I, or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt or ester prodrug thereof,

wherein the wavy segments represent an α or β bond, dashed linesrepresent a double bond or a single bond, R is a substituted heteroarylradical, wherein each R¹ is independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydrogen and a lower alkyl radical having up to six carbonatoms, X is —OR¹, —N(R¹)₂, or —N(R⁵)SO₂R⁶, wherein R⁵ representshydrogen or CH₂OR⁶, R⁶ represents hydrogen, a lower alkyl radical havingup to six carbon atoms, a halogen substituted derivative of said loweralkyl radical, or a fluoro substituted derivative of said lower alkylradical, and R¹⁵ is hydrogen or a lower alkyl radical having up to sixcarbon atoms; and Y is ═O or represents 2 hydrogen radicals.

The substituent(s) on the substituted heteroaryl radical in Formula Imay be selected from the group consisting of C₁ to C₆ alkyls; halogens(such as fluoro, chloro, and bromo); trifluoromethyl (CF₃); COR¹ (suchas COCH₃); COCF₃; SO₂N(R¹)₂(such as SO₂NH₂); NO₂; and CN.

In more specific embodiments the therapeutic agent may comprise orconsist of a compound having Formula II, or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt or ester prodrug thereof,

wherein R¹, X, Y, R⁵, R⁶, and R¹⁵ are all as defined above for FormulaI, and wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of O and S, A isselected from the group consisting of N, —CH, and C, R² is selected fromthe group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, and a lower alkyl having from1 to 6 carbon atoms, R³ and R⁴ are independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydrogen, halogen, a lower alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbonatoms, or, together with

R³ and R⁴ forms a condensed aryl ring.

In some embodiments the therapeutic agent contained by the implant ofthe present disclosure comprises or consists of a compound havingFormula II, wherein at least one of R², R³ or R⁴ is independentlyselected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, and C₁-C₆ alkyl. Inmore specific embodiments at least one of R², R³ or R⁴ is chloro orbromo. In more specific embodiments at least one of R², R³ or R⁴ isbromo. In a more specific embodiment at least two of R², R³ or R⁴ arechloro. In some embodiments the therapeutic agent comprises or consistsof a compound having Formula II, wherein at least one of R², R³ or R⁴ isethyl, propyl, or butyl. In some embodiments, R⁶ is methyl, ethyl ortrifluoromethyl. In one embodiment the therapeutic agent comprises orconsists of a compound having Formula II, wherein R¹⁵ is hydrogen ormethyl.

In one embodiment the therapeutic agent comprises or consists of acompound having Formula II, wherein X is —N(R¹)₂ and Y is ═O.

In one embodiment the therapeutic agent contained by the implant of thepresent disclosure comprises or consists of a compound having FormulaIII

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester prodrug thereof, whereinX is —OH or —N(R¹)₂, and wherein R¹ is independently selected from thegroup consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₆ alkyl.

In a further embodiment the therapeutic agent comprises or consists of acompound having Formula IV

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester prodrug thereof, whereinX is —OH or —N(R¹), and wherein R¹ is independently selected from thegroup consisting of hydrogen and a C₁-C₆ alkyl.

In a specific embodiment the therapeutic agent comprises or consists ofa compound having Formula IV wherein X is —NH₂. This compound isreferred to herein as Compound 1 and has the following structure:

In another embodiment the therapeutic agent comprises or consists of acompound having Formula IV, or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof, wherein X is —OH. This compound is referred to herein asCompound 2 and has the following structure:

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that FormulasI-IV contain one or more stereocenters. Unless it is specifically notedotherwise, the scope of the present invention includes all enantiomersand diastereomers of Formulas I-IV and racemic mixtures thereof. SomeCompounds having any one of Formulas I-IV may form salts withpharmaceutically acceptable acids or bases, and such pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts of the compounds are also within the scope of theinvention.

Accordingly, the present invention provides for a biodegradableintraocular implant effective for reducing intraocular pressure in aneye of a patient, wherein the implant comprises or consists of abiodegradable polymer material and a Compound having Formula I, II, III,or IV, as defined above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.Specific embodiments provide for a biodegradable intraocular implantcomprising or consisting of a biodegradable polymer material andCompound 1 or Compound 2, or a mixture thereof, associated with thebiodegradable polymer material.

Another embodiment is a biodegradable intraocular implant comprising abiodegradable polymer material and Compound 1 as the pharmaceuticallyactive agent, wherein the intraocular implant comprises nopharmaceutically active agent or IOP-lowering agent other than Compound1.

Compounds having any of Formulas I-IV may be prepared by methods knownin the art. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,602,900, 6,124,344,5,741,810, and 5,834,498.

The Compound having Formula I, II, III, or IV may be associated with thebiodegradable polymer material. Thus, the Compound may be mixed with,dissolved and/or dispersed within, encapsulated by, or coupled to thebiodegradable polymer material. The Compound having Formula I, II, III,or IV may be uniformly or non-uniformly dispersed within or distributedthroughout the biodegradable polymer material. Release of the Compoundfrom an implant following placement in an eye may occur by diffusion ofthe Compound, erosion or degradation of the polymer material,dissolution, osmosis, or any combination thereof.

The biodegradable intraocular implant, described herein may bespecifically sized and formulated for placement in an ocular region ofan eye, such as, for example, the vitreous body or anterior chamber ofthe eye, to treat glaucoma and reduce intraocular pressure, including,for example, elevated intraocular pressure (or ocular hypertension) inthe eye.

Specific embodiments provide for an intraocular biodegradable implantthat will release a Compound having any of Formulas I-IV (such as forexample Compound 1) continuously in vitro and/or in vivo in an eye for1-3 months, 3 months or more, for 3-6 months, or for 6 months or moreafter placement in the eye of a patient.

An intraocular implant according to the present disclosure may release 5to 200 nanograms (ng) of the Compound per day, 10 to 200 nanograms ofthe Compound per day, 5 to 100 nanograms of the Compound per day, 10 to100 nanograms of the Compound per day, 10 to 50 nanograms of theCompound per day, at least 10 ng but not more than 50 ng of the Compoundper day, from 10 to about 35 ng of the Compound per day, or from 20 to35 nanograms of the Compound per day for 1 month or more, 2 months ormore, 1-3 months, for 3-6 months, or for 6 months or more.

Implants of the present invention are designed to release a Compound ofFormula IV, such as for example Compound 1, in a controlled fashion. Insome forms, the implant will provide a linear or near constant rate ofrelease of the Compound for 1 month or more, e.g. for 1, 3, or 6 months.

Daily dosages of Compound 1 in the range of 5-200, 10-100 nanograms, oreven 5-50 nanograms, when delivered or released directly into theanterior chamber, may be a therapeutically effective amount for reducingintraocular pressure in an eye. The term “therapeutically effectiveamount” or “effective amount” refers to the level or amount of activeagent (e.g., Compound 1 or Compound 2) needed to reduce intraocularpressure without causing significant negative or adverse side effects tothe eye or a region of the eye to which the agent is administered.

Implants of the present invention may reduce intraocular pressure in aneye in a patient for 1 month (30 days) or more, 1 to 3 months, 3 months,3-6 months, or even 6 months or more after placement of the implant inthe eye. The patient is typically a human or non-human mammal that isexperiencing or diagnosed with elevated intraocular pressure or ocularhypertension in one or both eyes. The patient may be further defined asone suffering from glaucoma, since glaucoma frequently includes elevatedintraocular pressure. Accordingly, the implants described herein may beused generally to reduce elevated intraocular pressure in an eye and totreat glaucoma in a patient. In this regard, one embodiment is a methodof reducing ocular hypertension or elevated intraocular pressure in apatient in need thereof, the method comprising placing a biodegradableintraocular implant according to the present disclosure in an eye of thepatient.

In particular forms of the treatment method, one or more intraocularimplants comprising a Compound having any of Formulas I-IV may beplaced, or more specifically injected, into the anterior chamber of aneye to thereby reduce intraocular pressure and ocular hypertension inthe eye. Accordingly, the intraocular implant may, for example, be sizedand formulated for placement in the anterior chamber the eye. Suchimplants may be referred to as “intracameral” implants.

Implants of the present disclosure are designed to provide long lastingrelief from elevated intraocular pressure (or ocular hypertension) byproviding a sustained, continuous release of a therapeutically effectiveamount of Compound 1 (or more generally a Compound having Formula I, II,III, or IV), or any pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, directlyinto the affected region of the eye, such as the anterior chamber of theeye. In this context, a therapeutically effective amount of Compound 1may be a dosage of between 5 to 200 ng/day, 10 to 200 ng per day, 5 to50 ng/day, or more specifically 10-40 ng/day, or even more specificallyabout 15 ng/day, 20 ng/day, or 30 ng/day. The patient may be a human ornon-human mammal in need of treatment for ocular hypertension (elevatedintraocular pressure) or glaucoma. The implant may be in the form of anextruded filament or compressed tablet. Other forms may include wafers,films, or sheets. The extruded filament can be a cylindrical ornon-cylindrical rod having a diameter and cut to a length suitable forplacement in the eye, such as the anterior chamber or vitreous body ofthe eye.

One embodiment is an extruded, intracameral, biodegradable implantcomprising about 8% by weight Compound 1 and from 0.001% to 10% byweight hexadecane-1-ol (hexadecanol), wherein the implant has a totalmass of from 30 to 100 μg and that releases between 10 and 50 ng ofCompound 1 per day for 3 to 5 months in vitro in phosphate bufferedsaline at 37° C. In some forms of this implant, the biodegradablepolymer material comprises a poly(D,L-lactide) having an acid end groupand an inherent viscosity of 0.16-024 dl/g, and a poly(D,L-lactide)having an ester end group and an inherent viscosity of 0.25-0.35 dl/g,and a poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer having an ester endgroup, a D,L-lactide to glycolide molar ratio of about 75:25 (e.g., from73:27 to 77:23), and an inherent viscosity of 0.16-0.24 dl/g, whereinthe inherent viscosity of each polymer and copolymer is measured for a0.1% solution of the polymer or copolymer in chloroform at 25° C.

Patients that may be effectively treated with a biodegradableintracameral implant comprising a Compound having I, II, III, or IV (forexample Compound 1) may include those having, suffering from, ordiagnosed with glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma, closed-angle glaucoma,chronic angle-closure glaucoma, patent iridotomy, ocular hypertension,elevated intraocular pressure, pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, or pigmentaryglaucoma. An implant according to this disclosure may be effective forreducing intraocular pressure in an eye that has low, normal, orelevated intraocular pressure. Therefore, an implant according to thisdisclosure may be effective for treating glaucoma in all its forms,including glaucoma characterized by elevated intraocular pressure, aswell as low-tension or normal-tension glaucoma, since these patients,too, may potentially benefit from a further reduction in intraocularpressure. Because of their ability to release therapeutically effectiveamounts of a potent intraocular pressure-reducing agent, such asCompound 1, for sustained periods, implants of the instant invention areexpected to be capable of reducing intraocular pressure in thesepatients for long periods without the need for frequent intraocularinjections or regular instillation of eye drops to the ocular surface asmay be necessary with topical therapy. Moreover, the greater potency ofCompound 1 for lowering IOP relative to some other prostamides andanti-glaucoma agents makes it possible to produce smaller implants withlonger administration periods that are safer and better for the eye andtherefore the patient.

Thus, one embodiment of the present invention is a method for reducingintraocular pressure (IOP) in an eye, the method comprising placing abiodegradable intraocular implant in the eye, the implant comprising orconsisting of a biodegradable polymer material and a Compound having anyof Formulas I-IV, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,associated with the polymer material, wherein the implant reducesintraocular pressure in the eye for 1, 3, or 6 months or more afterplacement in the eye. In some instances the implant may reduce IOP inthe eye by at least 30% relative to the IOP in the eye without theimplant or before receiving the implant (baseline IOP) for 1, 3, or 6months or more. The implant may be placed in an ocular region of the eyeand may, therefore, be sized for placement in an ocular region of theeye. The patient may have low or normal intraocular pressure or may besuffering from elevated intraocular pressure, sometimes referred to asocular hypertension, or the patient may have glaucoma. In a morespecific form, the patient is suffering from or diagnosed with glaucomaor elevated intraocular pressure and the implant is placed in theanterior chamber or vitreous body of the affected eye(s). In a specificembodiment the implant is placed in the anterior chamber angle (oriridocorneal angle), and even more specifically in the inferioriridocorneal angle, of the affected eye(s). In any of these methods, theCompound in the implant (i.e., the therapeutic agent) may comprise orconsist of Compound 1 or Compound 2, a pharmaceutically acceptable saltof Compound 1 or 2, or any mixture thereof, and the implant may beplaced in the anterior chamber or vitreous body of the eye viaintracameral or intravitreal injection. In specific embodiments theimplant is placed in the anterior chamber angle (or iridocorneal angle)of the eye. The implant may also be placed in the subconjunctival regionof the eye.

Accordingly, the disclosure provides for a method of treating glaucomain a patient, comprising the step of placing a biodegradable intraocularimplant as described herein in an eye of the patient. The implant may beplaced in the anterior chamber of the eye or other ocular region of theeye, to thereby treat the glaucoma.

Some embodiments include a method of administering a Compound havingFormula III or IV, such as Compound 1 or Compound 2, without eye drops,the method comprising inserting an implant described herein into an eyeof a patient in need thereof. The implant is preferably placed in theanterior chamber of the eye.

One embodiment provides for a method of reducing intraocular pressure ina patient in need thereof comprising administering to the eye(s) of thepatient a pharmaceutical composition, the composition comprising atherapeutically effective amount of a compound having Formula I, II,III, or IV. Some embodiments provide for a method of reducingintraocular pressure in a patient in need thereof comprisingadministering to the eye(s) of the patient a pharmaceutical compositioncomprising a therapeutically effective amount of Compounds 1 or 2. Thepharmaceutical composition for reducing intraocular pressure willgenerally be biocompatible with the eye and will contain atherapeutically effective amount of the Compound and a pharmaceuticallyacceptable excipient. Biocompatible implants and polymers produce few orno toxic effects, are not injurious or physiologically reactive, and donot cause an immunological reaction. In a specific embodiment thepharmaceutical composition is in the form of a liquid, such as anaqueous solution, oil, or emulsion. In one embodiment the pharmaceuticalcomposition is administered to the patient's eye(s) topically. Forexample, the pharmaceutical composition may be administered by eyedrops. In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition isadministered to the anterior chamber of the eye without using eye drops.

Pharmaceutical compositions may be prepared by combining atherapeutically effective amount of at least one compound according tothe present invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, asan active agent, with conventional pharmaceutically acceptableexcipients, and by preparation of unit dosage forms suitable for topicalocular use. The therapeutically effective amount may be between 0.0001and 5% or 10% (w/v) in liquid formulations. For ophthalmic application,physiological saline solution may be one possible vehicle. The pH ofsuch compositions should preferably be maintained between 6.5 and 7.2with an appropriate buffering agent or system, a substantially neutralpH being preferred. The formulations may also contain one or moreconventional, pharmaceutically acceptable preservatives, stabilizers,antioxidants, chelating agents, tonicity agents (e.g. alkaline metal oralkaline earth salts), and surfactants. Certain compositions may includeboth a buffer component and a tonicity component.

Other embodiments provide for a method of making biodegradableintraocular implants effective for reducing intraocular pressure in apatient, the implant comprising or consisting of a therapeutic agent, abiodegradable polymer material, and, optionally, one or more excipients,the method comprising in order a) blending the therapeutic agent with abiodegradable polymer or two or more biodegradable polymers and one ormore excipients, if any, to form a mixture, b) extruding the mixture toform a filament, and c) cutting the filament to lengths suitable forplacement in an eye of a patient suffering from elevated intraocular,thereby forming the intraocular implants. In particular embodiments thefilament is cut to lengths suitable for placement in the anteriorchamber of an eye. The therapeutic agent may comprise a compound havingany one of Formulas I-IV or may comprise Compounds 1 or 2, as definedherein. In some instances the therapeutic agent used for blending withthe polymer(s) (step a) may be in the form of a solid. The mixture maybe extruded at a temperature of from 60° C. to 150° C.

Yet other embodiments provide for an apparatus for implanting orinjecting a biodegradable intraocular implant, according to any of theembodiments described herein, into an ocular region of an eye in apatient suffering from glaucoma or ocular hypertension (i.e., elevatedintraocular pressure), the apparatus comprising an elongate housinghaving a longitudinal axis and a cannula extending longitudinally fromthe housing, the cannula having a lumen extending therethrough, thelumen configured to receive an intraocular implant, the apparatusfurther comprising an intraocular implant according to any of theembodiments described herein. The implant may be located within thecannula lumen or in a position proximal to the cannula lumen. Inspecific forms of the apparatus the dimensions of the cannula areidentical to that or not greater than that of a 21, 22, 25, 27, 28, or30 gauge needle and the cannula will have a beveled or sharp tip tofacilitate the penetration of ocular tissue. In some forms, the outerand inner diameters of the cannula are not greater than those of a 25 or27 gauge needle.

Also within the scope of this invention are methods for delivering theintraocular implant into the eye of a patient suffering from glaucoma orelevated intraocular pressure using an apparatus as described above, theapparatus comprising a cannula having a proximal end, a distal sharpend, and a lumen extending therethrough, an intraocular implant selectedfrom any of those described herein, and an actuator, the movement ofwhich causes the implant to be ejected from the apparatus, the cannulalumen sized to receive the intraocular implant and permit translation ofthe implant therethrough, the method comprising the steps of insertingthe cannula into an ocular region of a patient's eye, and depressing oractivating the actuator, thereby ejecting the implant from the cannulainto the patient's eye. In some embodiments the ocular region of the eyeinto which the implant is injected can be the anterior chamber orvitreous body of the eye.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of the mammalian eye.

FIG. 2. shows the in vitro cumulative total percent release of Compound1 into phosphate buffered saline (0.01 M; pH 7.4) at 37° C. over timefor four (4) separate implants (Implants 1-4) prepared with a twin screwextruder. The composition of each implant is described in Table 2.

FIG. 3 shows the in vitro cumulative total percent release of Compound 1into phosphate buffered saline (0.01 M; pH 7.4) at 37° C. over time forImplants 5 and 6, prepared with a piston extruder. The composition ofeach implant is set forth in Table 2.

FIG. 4 shows the in vitro cumulative total percent release of Compound 1into phosphate buffered saline (0.01 M; pH 7.4) at 37° C. over time forImplants 7 and 8, prepared with a piston extruder. The composition ofeach implant is set forth in Table 2.

FIG. 5 shows the sustained, intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering effectof Compound 1 in dogs when administered to the eye in the form of anextruded, biodegradable intracameral implant (Implant 1, described inTable 2). A single implant was placed in the anterior chamber of one eyein each dog of the test group. The contralateral eye was left untreated.The test group consisted of 8 dogs (n=8). The mean percent change in IOPrelative to the baseline IOP in the treated and untreated eyes for eachgroup was measured at various time points and then plotted as line graphto show the change in IOP over time.

FIG. 6 shows the IOP lowering effect of Implant 2 in dogs (n=8),following placement of a single implant in the anterior chamber of theeye. The in vivo study was carried out as described for FIG. 5 and inExample 2.

FIG. 7 shows the IOP lowering effect of Implant 3 in dogs (n=8),following placement of a single implant in the anterior chamber of theeye. The in vivo study was carried out as described for FIG. 5 and inExample 2.

FIG. 8 shows the IOP lowering effect of Implant 4 in dogs (n=8),following placement of a single implant in the anterior chamber of theeye. The in vivo study was carried out as described for FIG. 5 and inExample 2.

FIG. 9 shows the in vitro cumulative total percent release of Compound 1into phosphate buffered saline (0.01 M; pH 7.4) at 37° C. over time forImplant 9 prepared with a piston extruder. The composition of Implant 9is set forth in Table 2.

FIG. 10 shows the in vitro cumulative total percent release of Compound1 into phosphate buffered saline (0.01 M; pH 7.4) at 37° C. over timefrom Implant Nos. 3, 10, and 11, prepared with a twin screw extruder.The compositions of Implants 3, 10, and 11 are set forth in Table 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Definitions

“C₁-C₆ alkyl” means an alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

The symbol “H”, as used in the Formulas herein, represents a hydrogenatom.

The symbol “O”, as used in the Formulas herein, represents an oxygenatom.

The symbol “N”, as used in the Formulas herein, represents a nitrogenatom.

The symbol “S”, as used in the Formulas herein, represents a sulfuratom.

The symbol “C”, as used in the Formulas herein, represents a carbonatom.

The symbol “Cl”, as used in the Formulas herein, represents a chlorineatom.

The symbol “Br”, as used in the Formulas herein, represents a bromineatom.

“Cumulative release profile” refers to the cumulative total percent ofan active agent (such as, for example, Compound 1) released from animplant into an ocular region in vivo over time or into a specificrelease medium (e.g., PBS) in vitro over time.

A “prodrug” means a compound (e.g., a drug precursor) that istransformed in vivo to yield an active form of the compound. Thetransformation may occur by various mechanisms (e.g., by metabolic orchemical processes), such as, for example, through hydrolysis.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to salts orcomplexes that retain the desired biological activity of the Compound ortherapeutic agent and exhibit minimal or no undesired toxicologicaleffects to the mammal or cell system to which they are administered.

An “intraocular implant” refers to a device or element that isconfigured to be placed in the eye. Examples include extruded filaments,comprising a biodegradable polymer material and a pharmaceuticallyactive agent, such as a Compound having Formula I, II, III, or IVassociated with the polymer material, and cut to a length suitable forplacement in an eye. Intraocular implants are generally biocompatiblewith the physiological conditions of an eye and do not cause adversereactions in the eye. In certain forms of the present invention, anintraocular implant may be sized and formulated for placement in theanterior chamber or vitreous body of the eye. Intraocular implants maybe placed in an eye without significantly disrupting vision of the eye.Intraocular implants comprising one or more biodegradable polymers and aCompound having Formula I, II, III, or IV or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof are examples of an intraocular implant (drugdelivery system) within the scope of the present invention.

An “intracameral” implant is an intraocular implant that is sized andformulated for placement in the anterior chamber of the eye.Non-limiting examples include Implants 1-4 and 9-11 described in Table2.

An “intravitreal” implant is an intraocular implant that is sized andformulated for placement in the vitreous body of the eye.

“Suitable for or configured for, sized for, or structured for insertion,implantation, or placement in (or into) an ocular region or site” withregard to an implant, means an implant which has a size (e.g.,dimensions and weight) such that it can be inserted, implanted, orplaced in an ocular region such as the anterior chamber or vitreous bodyof the eye without causing excessive tissue damage or significantlyimpairing the existing vision of the patient into which the implant isimplanted or inserted.

“Treating” and “treatment” as used herein includes any beneficial effectin the eye of a patient produced by the present methods. Treatment of anocular condition, such as ocular hypertension or elevated intraocularpressure, or glaucoma, may reduce or resolve the ocular condition or mayreduce or retard the progression of one or more signs, symptoms, or riskfactors of or associated with the ocular condition. The sign(s) orsymptom(s) positively affected by the treatment will depend on theparticular condition. Examples of beneficial (and therefore positive)effects produced by the present methods may include a reduction inintraocular pressure, ocular pain (i.e., eye pain), ocular swelling,and/or ocular inflammation. Treatment by any of the methods describedherein using one or more of the intraocular implants described hereinmay, in some instances, also improve the general well being, comfort,and/or visual performance of the eye.

“Active agent”, “drug”, “therapeutic agent,” “therapeutically activeagent,” and “pharmaceutically active agent” refer to the chemicalcompound, or drug substance, that produces a desired therapeutic effectin the eye of the patient (human or non-human mammal) to which it isadministered and that treats the ocular condition (medical condition ofthe eye), such as elevated intraocular pressure (ocular hypertension) orglaucoma, affecting the patient. One non-limiting example of atherapeutically (or pharmaceutically) active agent or therapeutic agentin the context of the present invention is Compound 1.

A “patient” can be a human or non-human mammal in need of treatment.

The “eye” is the sense organ for sight, and includes the eyeball, orglobe, the orbital sense organ that receives light and transmits visualinformation to the central nervous system. Broadly speaking the eyeincludes the eyeball and the ocular regions, tissues, and fluids whichconstitute the eyeball, the periocular muscles (such as the oblique andrectus muscles) and the portion of the optic nerve which is within oradjacent to the eyeball.

The term “therapeutically effective amount” or “effective amount” refersto the level or amount of active agent needed to treat an ocularcondition without causing significant negative or adverse side effectsto the eye or a region of the eye to which the agent is administered.

The term “biodegradable polymer” refers to a polymer or polymers whichdegrade in vivo, and wherein degradation of the polymer or polymers overtime occurs concurrent with or subsequent to release of the therapeuticagent. A biodegradable polymer may be a homopolymer, a copolymer, or apolymer comprising more than two different structural repeating units.

The term “ocular region” or “ocular site” refers generally to any areaof the eyeball, including the anterior and posterior segment of the eye,and which generally includes, but is not limited to, any functional(e.g., for vision) or structural tissues found in the eyeball, ortissues or cellular layers that partly or completely line the interioror exterior of the eyeball. Specific examples of an ocular region in aneye include the anterior chamber, the posterior chamber, the vitreouscavity (vitreous body or the vitreous), the choroid, the suprachoroidalspace, the conjunctiva, the subconjunctival space, the sub-Tenon space,the episcleral space, the intracorneal space, the epicorneal space, thesclera, the pars plana, surgically-induced avascular regions, themacula, and the retina.

As used herein, an “ocular condition” is a disease, ailment or conditionwhich affects or involves the eye or one of the parts or regions of theeye. Broadly speaking the eye includes the eyeball and the tissues andfluids which constitute the eyeball, the periocular muscles (such as theoblique and rectus muscles) and the portion of the optic nerve which iswithin or adjacent to the eyeball.

An anterior ocular condition is a disease, ailment or condition whichaffects or which involves an anterior (i.e. front of the eye) ocularregion or site, such as a periocular muscle, an eye lid or an eye balltissue or fluid which is located anterior to the posterior wall of thelens capsule or ciliary muscles. Thus, an anterior ocular conditionprimarily affects or involves the conjunctiva, the cornea, the anteriorchamber, the iris, the posterior chamber (behind the retina but in frontof the posterior wall of the lens capsule), the lens or the lens capsuleand blood vessels and nerve which vascularize or innervate an anteriorocular region or site. Glaucoma can be considered to be an anteriorocular condition because a clinical goal of glaucoma treatment can be toreduce a hypertension of aqueous fluid in the anterior chamber of theeye (i.e. reduce intraocular pressure).

A posterior ocular condition is a disease, ailment or condition whichprimarily affects or involves a posterior ocular region or site such aschoroid or sclera (in a position posterior to a plane through theposterior wall of the lens capsule), vitreous, vitreous chamber, retina,optic nerve (i.e. the optic disc), and blood vessels and nerves whichvascularize or innervate a posterior ocular region or site. Glaucoma canalso be considered a posterior ocular condition because the therapeuticgoal is to prevent the loss of or reduce the occurrence of loss ofvision due to damage to or loss of retinal cells or optic nerve cells(i.e. neuroprotection).

Pharmaceutical Compositions for Topical Application to an Eye

For topical application (e.g. in the form of eye drops), pharmaceuticalcompositions may be prepared by combining a therapeutically effectiveamount of at least one compound according to the present invention, or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as an active agent, with oneor more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, and by preparation ofunit dosage forms suitable for topical ocular use. A therapeuticallyefficient amount may be between 0.0001 and 10% (w/v), or from 0.001 to5.0% (w/v) in liquid formulations.

Preferably solutions are prepared using a physiological saline solutionas a major vehicle. The pH of such ophthalmic solutions shouldpreferably be maintained between 6.5 and 7.2 with an appropriate buffersystem, a substantially neutral pH being preferred. The compositions mayalso contain conventional, pharmaceutically acceptable preservatives,buffers, tonicity agents, antioxidants, stabilizers, and surfactants.

Preferred preservatives that may be used in the pharmaceuticalcompositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to,benzalkonium chloride, chlorobutanol, thimerosal, phenylmercuric acetateand phenylmercuric nitrate. A preferred surfactant is, for example,Tween 80. Likewise, various preferred vehicles may be used in theophthalmic preparations of the present invention. These vehiclesinclude, but are not limited to, polyvinyl alcohol, povidone,hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, poloxamers, carboxymethyl cellulose,hydroxyethyl cellulose and purified water.

Tonicity agents may be added as needed or convenient. They include, butare not limited to, salts, particularly sodium chloride, potassiumchloride, mannitol and glycerin, or any other suitable ophthalmicallyacceptable tonicity adjustor.

Various buffers and means for adjusting pH may be used so long as theresulting preparation is ophthalmically acceptable. Accordingly, buffersinclude acetate buffers, citrate buffers, phosphate buffers and boratebuffers. Acids or bases may be used to adjust the pH of theseformulations as needed.

Acceptable antioxidants may include sodium metabisulfite, sodiumthiosulfate, acetylcysteine, butylated hydroxyanisole and butylatedhydroxytoluene.

Other excipients may include one or more chelating agents.

The pharmaceutical compositions for topical use may be convenientlypackaged in forms suitable for metered application, such as incontainers equipped with a dropper, to facilitate application to theeye.

Size and Configuration of the Biodegradable Intraocular Implant

Biodegradable implants that are sized and formulated for placement inthe eye of a patient (intraocular implants) and that comprise a Compoundhaving any of Formulas I-IV, dispersed in a biodegradable polymermaterial (or matrix) may be useful for reducing intraocular pressure andtreating glaucoma. We have discovered here that Compound 1 isparticularly effective for reducing intraocular pressure in an eye whenadministered directly into the anterior chamber of the eye.Biodegradable implants are a safe, non-toxic, and effective means bywhich to administer this compound to the anterior chamber.

Consistent with this preferred site of delivery, implants of thisinvention are sized and formulated to be received in the anteriorchamber of the eye (e.g., a human eye), and preferably within theanterior chamber angle of the eye, with little or no adverse effects onthe eye, particularly the corneal endothelium, and without obstructingor significantly impairing the vision of the patient. Patients receivingthe implant will receive a therapeutically effective amount of theCompound (which in some embodiments is Compound 1) and will preferablyexperience little or no hyperemia or inflammation in the eye followingplacement of the implant in the eye. In this regard, then, the inventiondiscloses intraocular implants that are sized and formulated forplacement in the anterior chamber of the eye, that are biocompatiblewith the eye, causing little or no immunological reaction orinflammation in the eye, and that may be effective for reducingintraocular pressure in an eye for at least one month, such as, forexample, for 1 to 6 months or longer. The exceptional potency ofCompound 1 for lowering IOP, for example, makes it possible to reducethe size of the intraocular implant needed to deliver a therapeuticallyeffective dose of the IOP-lowering agent to target tissues and sites inthe eye such as the anterior chamber, possibly minimizing potentialirritation or injury to the tissues in the eye and more generallyproviding increased safety and greater overall benefit and comfort forthe patient. Moreover, the use of smaller implants may reduce the timeneeded to completely degrade the implant in the eye following drugrelease.

An implant may have a size suitable for insertion, placement orimplantation in an ocular region or site, such as the anterior chamber,posterior chamber, or vitreous body of the eye. The size of an implantmay affect the rate of release, period of treatment, and concentrationof the Compound having one of Formulas I-IV in treated tissue. At equalactive agent loads, larger implants may deliver a proportionately largerdose.

An implant sized for placement in the anterior chamber (an intracameralimplant) will generally have a diameter (or other dimension asappropriate for non-cylindrical filaments) of from 100 to 400 μm and alength of from 0.5 to 6 mm. The implants may generally be formed by asingle or double extrusion process, may be cylindrical ornon-cylindrical, and may have a total weight ranging from 10 μg to 500μg. The weight may depend, in part, on the dosage desired. In someembodiments, implants suitable for placement in the anterior chamber ofan eye and suitable for use according to the invention will have adiameter of between 100 μm and 300 μm, a length of between 0.5 mm and 2mm, and a total weight of between 10 μg and 200 μg or between 10 μg and100 μg. In some instances, the intracameral implant for reducing IOP hasa total weight of from 10 μg to 100 μg, or more specifically from 30-100μg. One embodiment is an extruded biodegradable intraocular implant thatis suitable for placement in the anterior chamber of an eye and that isabout 200 μm in diameter and about 1.5 mm in length.

The eye(s) in some patients suffering from glaucoma or more generallyocular hypertension may be more receptive to placement of thebiodegradable implant in the vitreous body of the eye. The vitreous bodymay accept larger implants of the same general formulation. For example,an intravitreal implant may have a length of 1 mm to 10 mm, a diameterof 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm, and a total weight of 50 μg to 5000 μg. The implantmay be scaled up or down depending on the site of administration in theeye and the size or the vitreous volume of the patient. While in mostcases a single implant may be found to reduce intraocular pressure in aneye for a sustained period (e.g., at least 3 months), in some instances,the practitioner may find it useful to place two or more of thepresently described implants in an ocular region of the eye to improvethe therapeutic effect.

Regarding configuration, intraocular implants may be in the form ofextruded rods or in the form of non-cylindrical filaments, having thedimensions described above. Wafers, sheets, or films and in some casescompressed tablets may also find use according to the present invention.

Biodegradable Polymer Material

In general, an implant according to the present invention will compriseor consist of a biodegradable polymer material and a Compound having anyone of Formulas I-IV associated with the biodegradable polymer material.The polymer material may comprise or consist of one, two, three, or morebiodegradable polymers, and optionally one or more excipients to furtherimprove the stability and/or release characteristics of the implant.

Examples of useful biodegradable polymers include polylactide polymersand poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymers. In some embodiments, thebiodegradable polymer material may comprise a polylactide, apoly(lactide-co-glycolide), a mixture of two or more polylactidepolymers (e.g., first and second polylactide polymers), a mixture of twoor more poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymers, or a mixture ofpolylactide and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) polymers In particular formsof any of these implants, the polylactide polymer may be apoly(D,L-lactide) and the poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer may be apoly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide). In any of the aforementionedcombinations, the two or more polymers may differ, one from the other,on the basis of their end group, repeating unit, inherent viscosity, orany combination thereof. Polylactide and poly(lactide-co-glycolide)polymers used in the present implants may have either a carboxyl (—COOH)or ester end group. In addition, two or more poly(lactide-co-glycolide)polymers may differ one from the other by the lactide:glycolide ratio ineach polymer, which may vary from about 85:15 to about 50:50 to about75:25, depending on the polymer.

Poly(D,L-lactide) or PLA may be identified by CAS Number 26680-10-4 andmay be represented as:

Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) or PLGA may be identified by CAS Number26780-50-7 and may be represented as:

wherein x is the number of D,L-lactide repeat units and y is the numberof glycolide repeat units, and n is the number ofD,L-lactide-co-glycolide repeat units. Thus,poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (or PLGA) comprises one or more blocks ofD,L-lactide repeat units and one or more blocks of glycolide repeatunits, where the size and number of the respective blocks may vary.

The molar percent of each monomer or repeat unit in a PLGA copolymer maybe 0-100%, about 15-85%, about 25-75%, or about 35-65%. In someembodiments, the D,L-lactide may be about 50% to about 75%, about 48% toabout 52%, or about 50%; about 73% to about 77%, or about 75% of thePLGA polymer on a molar basis. The balance of the polymer mayessentially be glycolide repeat units. For example, glycolide may beabout 25% to about 50%, about 23% to about 27%, or about 25%; about 48%to about 52%, or about 50% of the PLGA polymer on a molar basis. Othergroups, such as terminal or capping groups (end group) may be present insmall amounts. As described above, in some embodiments, PLGA copolymersare used in conjunction with PLA polymers. In some implants, a 75/25PLGA polymer having an ester end group is used.

The hydrophilic or hydrophobic character of the end groups may be usefulin varying polymer material degradation. Polymers with a hydrophilic endgroup may degrade faster than polymers with a hydrophobic end groupbecause a hydrophilic group may take up water. Examples of suitablehydrophilic end groups include, but are not limited to, carboxyl (acidend group), hydroxyl, and polyethylene glycol. These groups may beintroduced by using an appropriate initiator. End groups may also beintroduced after polymerization is complete to convert the terminalhydroxyl groups into other end groups. For example, ethylene oxide mayconvert hydroxyl to polyethylene glycol. Hydrophobic ended (alsoreferred to as capped or end-capped) polymers have an ester linkagehydrophobic in nature at the polymer terminus.

Other polymers of interest include or may be selected fromhydroxyaliphatic carboxylic acids, either homopolymers or copolymers,hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, polycaprolactones, polysaccharides,polyethers, calcium alginate, celluloses, carboxymethyl cellulose,polyvinyl alcohol, polyesters and combinations thereof.

Useful polysaccharides may include, without limitation, calciumalginate, and functionalized celluloses, such as carboxymethylcelluloseesters characterized by being water insoluble, and having a molecularweight of about 5 kD to 500 kD, for example.

Release of a drug from a biodegradable polymer material is theconsequence of several mechanisms or combinations of mechanisms. Some ofthese mechanisms include desorption from the implant's surface,dissolution, diffusion through porous channels of the hydrated polymerand erosion of the polymer(s) that make up the matrix. Erosion can bebulk or surface or a combination of both. The polymer matrix may releasethe therapeutic agent at a rate effective to sustain release of anamount of the agent (for example, Compound 1) for more than one month,for 1-3 months, for 3-6 months, or for 6 months after implantation intoan eye. For example, an implant may comprise Compound 1, and the polymermaterial (or matrix) of the implant may degrade at a rate effective tosustain release of a therapeutically effective amount of Compound 1 forone, two, three, or 6 month(s) in vitro or after being placed in an eye,or, more specifically, after being placed in the anterior chamber theeye.

The one or more biodegradable polymers used to form the matrix (polymermaterial of the implant) are desirably subject to enzymatic orhydrolytic instability. Additional preferred characteristics of thepolymer(s) include biocompatibility, compatibility with the therapeuticcomponent, ease of use of the polymer in making the implant of thepresent invention, a half-life in the physiological environment of atleast about 6 hours, preferably greater than about one day, and waterinsolubility.

A biodegradable polymer material preferably degrades in vivo in a mannerthat provides for release of a therapeutically effective amount of thetherapeutic agent for a period that is significantly greater than the invivo life of the agent when administered in an eye drop formulation. Aspreviously discussed, a polymer material may be a single polymer orcopolymer, or, in some instances, a combination or blend ofbiodegradable polymers and/or copolymers.

In addition to the biodegradable polymer(s) and Compound having FormulaI, II, III, or IV, an intraocular implant according to this inventionmay comprise one or more excipients to improve the stability (e.g.,shelf life) of the therapeutic agent in the final implant, the ease ofmanufacture and handling of the implant, and/or the releasecharacteristics of the implant. Compound 1, for example, is susceptibleto oxidative degradation under various manufacturing, formulation, andstorage conditions. The main degradation product is believed to be theC-15 ketone.

Examples of excipients for any of these purposes may includepreservatives, antioxidants, buffering agents, chelating agents,electrolytes, or other excipients. In general, the excipient, whenpresent, may constitute 0.001 to 10% or up to 15% by weight of theimplant, and may be selected from any of those named below.

Useful water soluble preservatives may include sodium bisulfite, sodiumbisulfate, sodium thiosulfate, benzalkonium chloride, chlorobutanol,thimerosal, phenylmercuric acetate, phenylmercuric nitrate,methylparaben, benzyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol and phenylethylalcohol.

Suitable water soluble buffering agents are alkali or alkaline earthcarbonates, phosphates, bicarbonates, citrates, borates, acetates,succinates, and the like, such as sodium phosphate, citrate, borate,acetate bicarbonate, and carbonate. These agents may be present inamounts sufficient to maintain a pH of the hydrated implant of between 2to 9 and preferably 4 to 8. As such the buffering agent may be as muchas 5% on a weight to weight basis of the total composition.

Suitable electrolytes may include sodium chloride, potassium chloride,and the like, including MgCl₂. Zinc salts may also be of interest.

Examples of antioxidants include ascorbate, ascorbic acid, L-ascorbicacid, melatonin, butylated hydroxyanisole, thiols, polyphenols,tocopherols such as alpha-tocopherol, mannitol, reduced glutathione,various carotenoids, cysteine, uric acid, taurine, tyrosine, superoxidedismutase, lutein, zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, astaxanthin, lycopene,N-acetyl-cysteine, carnosine, gamma-glutamylcysteine, quercetin,lactoferrin, dihydrolipoic acid, citrate, Ginkgo Biloba extract, teacatechins, bilberry extract, vitamin E or an ester of vitamin E, retinylpalmitate, and derivatives thereof.

Useful chelating agents may be selected from, for example,ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), ethylenediamine, porphine, andvitamin B-12.

Other excipients may include alcohols such as, for example, hexadecanol(also referred to as cetyl alcohol and hexadecan-1-ol, and sometimesdenoted as C16-OH). In some embodiments, the implant may comprise astraight chain or branched alcohol that is greater than 10 carbons inlength.

In one embodiment an implant may further include polyethylene glycolsuch as for example polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350). In otherembodiments the implant does not contain PEG 3350.

An implant may include a combination of two or more of the above-namedexcipients.

Oxygen may be an important element in the degradation pathway of atherapeutic agent such as Compound 1. Other or additional means forextending the shelf life and preserving the potency of the implant oncemanufactured can comprise the step of storing the implant in anoxygen-depleted or oxygen-poor atmosphere such as in a sealed pouch(e.g., an aluminum pouch) comprising an oxygen absorber pack. Additionalsteps may include filling the pouch with nitrogen or argon gas beforesealing the pouch to further remove oxygen from the pouch.

One embodiment is an intraocular implant according to this disclosurecomprising an antioxidant that retains at least 90% or greater than 95%or at least 98% of its initial potency (or that loses no more than 5% orno more than 2% of its initial potency) after storage of the extrudedimplant for one month or for three months at 25° C. in a sealed pouchcomprising an oxygen absorber. The initial potency may be based on theactual or theoretical amount of the active agent (e.g., Compound 1) on aweight to weight basis (w/w) present in the implant immediately afterimplant manufacture. In some embodiments, the implant may further becontained in a needle-tipped ocular implant delivery device in the pouchand the pouch may further contain a desiccant.

The amount of biodegradable polymer material, and therefore the ratioand/or amount of the particular biodegradable polymer(s) used in animplant may vary depending on the Compound used and the releasecharacteristics desired. A linear or constant, or nearly constant rateof release over a sustained period may be useful for the steady, longterm (>1 month, e.g., 3-6 months) reduction of intraocular pressure. Ingeneral, the biodegradable polymer material of an implant of thisinvention may constitute from 1% to 99% of the implant by weight (%w/w). In some embodiments the biodegradable polymer material represents80% to 99% of the implant by weight (% w/w). In some embodiments, thebiodegradable polymer material represents about 92% to about 99% of theimplant by weight.

In one embodiment the biodegradable polymer material comprises orconsists of first, second, and third biodegradable polymers. The firstand second polymers may be poly(D,L-lactide) polymers that differ onefrom the other by their end group (ester or acid) and/or their inherentviscosity (as determined for a 0.1% solution in chloroform at 25° C.);and the third polymer may be a poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide). Theimplant may optionally further comprise hexadecanol.

In one embodiment, the first polymer is a poly(D,L-lactide) having anester end group and an inherent viscosity of 0.25-0.35 dl/g (as measuredfor a 0.1% w/v solution in chloroform at 25° C.) (e.g., R203S); thesecond polymer is a poly(D,L-lactide) having an acid end group (i.e., acarboxyl end group) and an inherent viscosity of 0.25-0.35 dl/g (asmeasured for a 0.1% w/v solution in chloroform at 25° C.) (e.g., R203H);and the third polymer is a poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) having anester end group, an inherent viscosity of 0.16-0.24 dl/g (as measuredfor a 0.1% w/v solution in chloroform at 25° C.), and aD,L-lactide:glycolide ratio of about 75:25 (e.g., RG752S).

In some embodiments, the first, second, and third biodegradable polymersare independently selected from the group consisting of:

R202H, which is a poly(D,L-lactide) having an acid end group and aninherent viscosity of 0.16-0.24 dl/g, as measured for a 0.1% solution inchloroform at 25° C.;

R203H, which is a poly(D,L-lactide) having an acid end group and aninherent viscosity of 0.25-0.35 dl/g, as measured for a 0.1% solution inchloroform at 25° C.;

R202S, which is a poly(D,L-lactide) having an ester end group and aninherent viscosity of 0.16-0.24 dl/g, as measured for a 0.1% solution inchloroform at 25° C.;

R203S, which is a poly(D,L-lactide) having an ester end group and aninherent viscosity of 0.25-0.35 dl/g, as measured for a 0.1% solution inchloroform at 25° C.; and

RG752S, which is a poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) having an ester endgroup and an inherent viscosity of 0.16-0.24 dl/g (as measured for a0.1% solution in chloroform at 25° C.), and a D,L-lactide:glycolidemolar ratio of about 75:25.

In one embodiment, the first polymer is a poly(D,L-lactide) having anester end group and an inherent viscosity of 0.25-0.35 dl/g, the secondpolymer is a poly(D,L-lactide) having an acid end group and an inherentviscosity of 0.16-0.24 dl/g, and the third polymer is apoly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) having an ester end group and an inherentviscosity of 0.16-0.24 dl/g and a D,L-lactide:glycolide ratio of about75:25, where the inherent viscosity of each polymer or copolymer ismeasured for a 0.1% solution of the polymer or copolymer in chloroformat 25° C.

In one specific embodiment, the first polymer is R203S, the secondpolymer is R202H, and the third polymer is RG752S, and the implantfurther comprises the excipient hexadecan-1-ol. In specific forms, theimplant comprises from 0.001% to 10% by weight of the hexadecan-1-ol.

In another embodiment, the biodegradable polymer material comprises orconsists of first and second biodegradable polymers, wherein the firstpolymer is a poly(D,L-lactide) having an ester end group and an inherentviscosity of 0.25-0.35 dl/g (as measured for a 0.1% w/v solution inchloroform at 25° C.) (e.g., R203S) and the second polymer is apoly(D,L-lactide) having an acid end group (i.e, carboxyl) and aninherent viscosity of 0.25-0.35 dl/g (as measured for a 0.1% w/vsolution in chloroform at 25° C.) (e.g., R203H).

In another embodiment, the biodegradable polymer material comprises orconsists of a poly(D,L-lactide) having an acid end group (i.e, acarboxyl end group) and an inherent viscosity of 0.16-0.24 dl/g (asmeasured for a 0.1% w/v solution in chloroform at 25° C.) (e.g., R202H).

In another embodiment, the biodegradable polymer material comprises orconsists of a poly(D,L-lactide) having an acid end group (i.e, carboxylend group) and an inherent viscosity of 0.25-0.35 dl/g (as measured fora 0.1% w/v solution in chloroform at 25° C.) (e.g., R203H).

One embodiment is an extruded biodegradable intracameral implantcomprising Compound 1, hexadecan-1-ol (hexadecanol), and a biodegradablepolymer material, wherein the biodegradable polymer material comprisesor consists of first, second and third polymers, wherein the firstpolymer is R203S, the second polymer is R202H, and the third polymer isRG752S. The implant may further comprise an antioxidant. Non-limitingexamples include Implants 3, 10, and 11, the formulations for which areset forth below in Table 2.

One embodiment is a biodegradable intraocular implant comprising abiodegradable polymer material, hexadecan-1-ol, and about 8% by weightof a compound having the formula

wherein the compound and the hexadecane-1-ol are associated with thebiodegradable polymer material, and wherein the biodegradable polymermaterial comprises i) a poly(D,L-lactide) having an ester end group andan inherent viscosity of about 0.25-0.35 dl/g, ii) a poly(D,L-lactide)having an acid end group and an inherent viscosity of about 0.16-0.24dl/g, and iii) a poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) having an ester endgroup, an inherent viscosity of about 0.16-0.24 dl/g, and aD,L-lactide:glycolide ratio of about 75:25, wherein the inherentviscosity of each poly(D,L-lactide) and poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)as given above is measured for a 0.1% solution of the polymer inchloroform at 25° C. In some embodiments the implant is an extrudedimplant. In one embodiment the implant further comprises an antioxidant,a chelating agent, or both an antioxidant and a chelating agent. Inspecific forms the antioxidant is butylated hydroxyanisole or ascorbicacid and the chelating agent is EDTA. The intraocular implant may besized for placement in the anterior chamber of the eye.

One specific embodiment is an intraocular implant comprising about 8% byweight of a compound having the formula

about 5.6% by weight hexadecan-1-ol, about 50.3% by weight R203S, whichis a poly(D,L-lactide) having an ester end group and an inherentviscosity of about 0.25-0.35 dl/g, about 22.4% by weight RG752S, whichis a poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) having an ester end group and aninherent viscosity of about 0.16-0.24 dl/g and a D,L-lactide:glycolideratio of about 75:25, about 11.2% by weight R202H, which is apoly(D,L-lactide) having an acid end group and an inherent viscosity ofabout 0.16-0.24 dl/g, about 2.0% by weight butylated hydroxyanisole, andabout 0.5% by weight EDTA, wherein the inherent viscosities of theR203S, R202H, and RG752S polymers correspond to those measured for a0.1% solution of the polymer in chloroform at 25° C.

Implants according to any of the embodiments listed above may preferablycomprise at least about 1% but no more than about 8% of Compound 1 byweight. For example, Compound 1 may be present in the implant in anamount of between 7 and 9% by weight of the implant. An implant maycontain 8.0% by weight Compound 1.

Implants comprising a biodegradable polymer material of the typedescribed above may provide for a constant, steady release of Compound 1for extended periods, such as 3 months, 4-5 months, or for 6 months.

PLA and PLGA polymers from the RESOMER® polymer product line areavailable from Evonik Industries AG, Germany.

Specific embodiments include but are not limited to an extrudedintraocular implant sized for placement in the anterior chamber of theeye and comprising any one of the formulations given for Implant Nos.1-4, 10, or 11 in Table 2.

Therapeutic Agents

The present invention includes biodegradable intraocular implants madeby an extrusion process that may be effective for reducing intraocularpressure in an eye of a patient for at least one month, for 1-3 months,at least 3 months, for 3-6 months, or for 6 months or more. Generally,the implant comprises or consists of a biodegradable polymer materialand a therapeutic agent associated with the biodegradable polymermaterial. The therapeutic agent may comprise a compound having FormulaI, II, III, or IV. In preferred embodiments, the therapeutic agentcomprises Compound 1 and the intraocular implant is suitable forplacement in the anterior chamber of the eye. The intraocular implantmay release from about 10 to about 50 ng of the therapeutic agent perday for at least one month in vitro.

Examples of Compounds having Formula IV, wherein R¹ is —NH₂ or —OH,include Compounds 1 and 2, shown above. Compounds 1 and 2 are of coursealso embraced by Formula III. Methods for making Compounds 1 and 2 aredescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,834,498.

In general, the therapeutic agent of the implant may constitute about 1%to about 90% of the total weight of the implant. In some embodiments thetherapeutic agent may represent from 1% to 20% of the total weight ofthe implant. Preferably, the amount of Compound 1 in an implant onweight to weight basis (w/w) does not exceed 8% of the total weight ofthe implant. Accordingly, in implants comprising Compound 1, Compound 1preferably comprises from 1% to 8% of the implant by weight, and inparticular forms constitutes 8% of the implant by weight. Restrictingthe weight percentage of Compound in an implant to these prescribedlevels may help avoid undesirably rapid or burst-like release of thedrug upon placement of the implant in a liquid environment such as theeye.

A USP approved method for dissolution or release test (USP 23; NF 18(1995) pp. 1790-1798) can be used to measure the rate of release of atherapeutically active agent such as Compound 1 from an implant. Forexample, using the infinite sink method, a weighed sample of an implantis added to a measured volume of a solution (release medium) containing0.9% NaCl (aq) or phosphate buffered saline, where the solution volumewill be such that the therapeutically active agent concentration afterrelease is less than 20%, and preferably less than 5%, of saturation.The mixture is maintained at 37° C. and stirred or shaken slowly toensure diffusion of therapeutically active agent from the implant. Theappearance of the therapeutically active agent in the solution orrelease medium as a function of time may be followed by various methodsknown in the art, such as spectrophotometry, HPLC, mass spectroscopy,etc.

As described above, an implant according to this invention may comprisea Compound having Formula I, II, III, or IV in the form of apharmaceutically acceptable salt. The term “pharmaceutically acceptablesalts” refers to salts or complexes that retain the desired biologicalactivity of the compound and exhibit minimal or no undesiredtoxicological effects to the patient or cell system to which they areadministered.

The base addition salt form of a compound that occurs in its free formas an acid may be obtained by treating the acid with an appropriate basesuch as an inorganic base, for example, sodium hydroxide, magnesiumhydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, ammonia and the like;or an organic base such as for example, L-arginine, ethanolamine,betaine, benzathine, morpholine and the like. (Handbook ofPharmaceutical Salts, P. Heinrich Stahl & Camille G. Wermuth (Eds),Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta-Zürich, 2002, 329-345). Salts formed withzinc are also of potential interest.

The acid addition salt form of a compound that occurs in its free formas a base may be obtained by treating the free base with an appropriateacid such as an inorganic acid, for example, hydrochloric acid,hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid and thelike; or an organic acid such as for example, acetic acid, hydroxyaceticacid, propanoic acid, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, malonic acid, fumaricacid, maleic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, malicacid, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid, tannic acid, pamoic acid, citricacid, methylsulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, orformic acid and the like (Handbook of Pharmaceutical Salts, P. HeinrichStahl & Camille G. Wermuth (Eds), Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta-Zürich,2002, 329-345).

In an implant according to the present disclosure, a Compound having anyof Formulas I-IV, such as Compound 1 or Compound 2, may be dispersed ordistributed in, and/or covering, and/or surrounded by a biodegradablepolymer material. When the implant contacts physiological fluid, such asocular fluid (e.g. aqueous humor), in vivo, the physiological fluid maycontact the portion of the Compound that is on the surface of theimplant, but may not have contact with the portion of the Compound thatis dispersed inside the polymer material. Once implanted, thebiodegradable polymer may begin to be hydrated. Hydration of an implantmay improve diffusion and release of the Compound. Additionally, theimplant may begin to degrade or erode over time. Degradation mayincrease hydration, increase the mobility of the polymer chains, andcreate pores for faster diffusion. Thus, implants may be configured sothat the Compound is released from the polymer material as the polymermaterial is hydrated and/or degrades in vivo. Since hydrationdecomposition and/or degradation of the implant may take a substantialamount of time—and may be significantly longer than the normal decayperiod of the Compound when administered by a normal eye dropformulation—an implant may provide sustained release. Sustained releasemay continue for as long as at least some of the biodegradable polymermaterial containing at least a portion of the Compound having one ofFormulas I-IV remains intact.

The rate at which the Compound having Formula I, II, III, or IV isreleased from an implant and the duration for which an implant releasesthe Compound may depend upon a variety of factors including, but notlimited to, implant size and shape, particle size of the Compound, thesolubility of the Compound, the ratio of the Compound to polymermaterial, the polymer(s) used (including monomer ratios in the polymerused, polymer end groups, and polymer molecular weight), polymercrystallinity, the method of manufacture, the surface area exposed,polymer material erosion rate, and the biological environment theimplants reside in post dosing, etc.

Methods of Manufacture

Various techniques may be employed to make the intraocular implantsdescribed herein. Useful techniques may include extrusion methods (forexample, hot melt extrusion) to produce rod-shaped implants (or fibers),compression methods to produce tablets, wafers, or pellets, and solventcasting methods to produce biodegradable sheets, films, and dry powders.Emulsion methods to produce a plurality of microspheres may also be ofuse in preparing a biodegradable intraocular drug delivery system forthe sustained release of a Compound having any of Formulas I-IV into aneye in a patient. Accordingly, one embodiment provides for apharmaceutical composition suitable for placement in an ocular region ofan eye and comprising a plurality of biodegradable microspheresencapsulating Compound 1.

An extruded implant can be made by a single or double extrusion method,and may be made with a piston or twin screw extruder, for example.Choice of technique, and manipulation of technique parameters employedto produce the implants can influence the release rates of the drug.Extrusion methods may allow for large-scale manufacture of implants andresult in implants with a progressively more homogenous dispersion ofthe drug within a continuous polymer matrix, as the productiontemperature is increased. Extrusion methods may use temperatures of fromabout 60° C. to about 150° C., or from about 70° C. to about 100° C., orlower as necessary.

In one embodiment, an intraocular implant according to the presentinvention is produced by an extrusion process. Polymers and excipients,if any, are generally blended with the therapeutic agent and thenco-extruded at a selected temperature to form a filament comprising abiodegradable polymer matrix (or material) and the therapeutic agentdispersed within and/or distributed throughout the matrix (or material).If desired the filament may be pulverized and re-extruded to form adouble extruded implant.

In one variation of producing implants by an extrusion process, thetherapeutic agent, biodegradable polymer(s), and, optionally, one ormore excipients are first mixed at room temperature (blended in acontainer) and then heated to a temperature range of 60° C. to 150° C.,for a time period of between 1 and 60 minutes, such as 1 to 30 minutes,5 minutes to 15 minutes, or 10 minutes. The mixture is then extrudedthrough a nozzle at a temperature of 60° C. to 130° C., or at 75° C. Theextruded filament is then cut to desired lengths to produce intraocularimplants having a specific weight. The orifice of the nozzle throughwhich the mixture is extruded will generally have a diameter appropriateto the desired diameter of the implant, but if necessary the extrudedfilament can be pulled from the nozzle to further reduce the diameter ofthe implant. The extruded implant may be generally cylindrical ornon-cylindrical, having a length and diameter (or other dimension asappropriate to non-cylindrical fibers) suitable for placement in anocular region of the eye such as the anterior chamber or vitreous body.

One possible method for producing an intraocular implant of the presentdisclosure uses a combination of solvent casting and hot melt extrusion.See, for example, US 2010/0278897. In this method, a dry powder or filmis first prepared by dissolving all materials (active agent, polymer(s),and excipients, if any) in an appropriate solvent, such as ethylacetate, to form a solution. The solution is then cast into a suitablecontainer (e.g., a TEFLON® dish), and then dried in a vacuum ovenovernight to form a dry film. The film is then ground into particles,which are collected and extruded by hot melt extrusion (using, forexample, a piston extruder) to prepare a filament containing the activeagent and one or more biodegradable polymers. The filament may be cut toa length and thereby weight suitable for placement in the eye. Theextrusion temperature for this process may range from 45° C. to 85° C.

An extruded filament or implant cut from an extruded filament may beterminally sterilized with electron beam (ebeam) radiation. An effectivedose of ebeam radiation may be 20-30 kGy, or more specifically 25 kGy.

Accordingly, the present invention encompasses methods for making andusing extruded biodegradable implants (which may be generally referredto as extruded rods or fibers) suitable for placement in an eye of apatient to reduce intraocular pressure, including elevated intraocularpressure in the eye.

Modes and Sites of Administration

To provide for the intended therapeutic effect (e.g., long termreduction of intraocular pressure) in a patient, including one sufferingfrom glaucoma, an implant according to the present invention ispreferably placed in the anterior chamber of the eye. The anteriorchamber refers to the space inside the eye between the iris and theinnermost corneal surface (endothelium). In some patients, however, itmay be necessary to place the implant in the vitreous body of the eye.The posterior chamber refers to the space inside the eye between theback of the iris and the front face of the vitreous. The posteriorchamber includes the space between the lens and the ciliary process,which produces the aqueous humor that nourishes the cornea, iris, andlens and maintains intraocular pressure. Referring to FIG. 1, these andother ocular regions of the eye (100) are shown in cross-section.Particular regions of the eye (100) include the cornea (102) and iris(104), which surround the anterior chamber (106). Behind the iris (104)is the posterior chamber (108) and lens (110). Within the anteriorchamber is the anterior chamber angle (112) and trabecular meshwork(114). Also shown are the corneal epithelium (118), sclera (116),vitreous (119), ciliary zonules (120), and ciliary process (121). Theposterior segment of the eye is the rear two-thirds of the eyeball(behind the lens), and includes the vitreous, the retina, and the opticnerve.

To reduce intraocular pressure and treat glaucoma in a patient, animplant described herein may be implanted into the anterior chamber (orother ocular region) of an eye of a mammal as monotherapy to deliver atherapeutic agent (such as Compound 1) into the anterior chamber of theeye without the need for eye drops. Alternatively, the implant may beused with eyedrops as an adjunctive therapy. In some embodiments,inserting an implant described herein into the anterior chamber of aneye may reduce intraocular pressure in the eye by at least about 20% or30% or more as compared to the baseline IOP for 1 month, 2 months, 3months, 4 months, or 6 months or more after placement in the eye of apatient. The patient may be a human or non-human mammal suffering fromelevated intraocular pressure or glaucoma and therefore in need oftreatment. In some embodiments, the implant may release Compound 1according to linear or pseudo zero order kinetics for at least one monthafter placement of the implant in an eye.

Biodegradable implants may be inserted into an eye by a variety ofmethods, including placement by forceps, by trocar, or by a hand-heldneedle-equipped (or needle-tipped) delivery device (applicator). Somehand held applicators may be used to insert one or more biodegradableimplants into the eye. Hand held applicators may comprise an 18-30 GA(gauge) stainless steel needle, a lever, an actuator, and a plunger orpush rod to facilitate ejection of the implant. An implant may beinserted by a scleral, limbal, or corneal route to access the anteriorchamber. Alternately, an implant may be inserted into the vitreous usingan appropriate applicator with a needle or cannula of length suitablefor accessing the target site and delivery of the implant. Some methodsfor inserting an implant include accessing the target area within theocular region with a needle, trocar or implantation device. Once withinthe target area, e.g., the anterior chamber or the vitreous, a lever ona hand held device can be depressed to cause an actuator to drive aplunger or push rod forward. As the plunger moves forward, it can pushthe device or implant into the target area (such as the vitreous or theanterior chamber). One example of an ocular implant delivery device isdisclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2004/0054374.

Accordingly, methods for treating glaucoma and reducing intraocularpressure in an eye of a patient as discussed herein may compriseadministering an biodegradable intraocular implant of the type presentlydisclosed to the eye by injection into the anterior chamber(intracameral injection) or vitreous body of the eye (intravitrealinjection). A syringe apparatus including an appropriately sized needle(for example, a 22, 25, 27, 28, or 30 gauge needle) may be useful forinjecting one or more implants into these regions in the eye.Accordingly, the width or diameter of the implant may be selected so asto allow the implant to be received in and translated through the lumenof the needle gauge selected.

Prior to use in a subject, an implant may be sterilized with a suitabledose of beta-radiation. Preferably, the sterilization method does notsubstantially reduce the therapeutic activity of the therapeutic agentin the implant or preserves at least 50 or 80% or more of the initialactivity.

Accordingly, the present invention includes, but is not limited to, thefollowing embodiments (1-16):

-   1. A biodegradable intraocular implant comprising a biodegradable    polymer material and a therapeutic agent associated with the    biodegradable polymer material, wherein the therapeutic agent    comprises a compound having the formula (I)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester prodrug thereof, whereinthe wavy segments represent an α or β bond, dashed lines represent adouble bond or a single bond, R is a substituted heteroaryl radical,wherein each R¹ is independently selected from the group consisting ofhydrogen and a lower alkyl radical having up to six carbon atoms, X is—OR¹, —N(R¹)₂, or —N(R⁵)SO₂R6, wherein R⁵ represents hydrogen or CH₂OR⁶,R⁶ represents hydrogen, a lower alkyl radical having up to six carbonatoms, a halogen substituted derivative of said lower alkyl radical, ora fluoro substituted derivative of said lower alkyl radical, and R¹⁵ ishydrogen or a lower alkyl radical having up to six carbon atoms; and Yis ═O or represents 2 hydrogen radicals, wherein the substituent(s) onthe substituted heteroaryl radical in Formula I is/are selected from thegroup consisting of C₁ to C₆ alkyls, halogens, trifluoromethyl, COR¹,COCF₃, SO₂N(R¹)₂, NO₂, and CN.

-   2. A biodegradable intraocular implant comprising a biodegradable    polymer material and a therapeutic agent associated with the    biodegradable polymer material, wherein the therapeutic agent    comprises a compound having the formula (III)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester prodrug thereof, whereinX is —OH or —N(R¹)₂, and wherein R¹ is independently selected from thegroup consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₆ alkyl, and wherein the implant iseffective for reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) in a mammalian eye.

-   3. An intraocular implant according to embodiment 2, wherein the    therapeutic agent comprises a compound having the formula (IV)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester prodrug thereof, whereinX is —OH or —N(R¹)₂, wherein R¹ is independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydrogen and a C₁-C₆ alkyl.

-   4. An intraocular implant according to embodiment 3, wherein the    therapeutic agent comprises a compound having the formula (Compound    1)

wherein the implant is effective for reducing IOP in a mammalian eye for5 months or more after placement in the eye.

-   5. An intraocular implant according to any of embodiments 1-4,    wherein the implant is sized for placement in the anterior chamber    of the eye.-   6. An intraocular implant according to any of embodiments 1-5,    wherein the biodegradable polymer material comprises a    poly(D,L-lactide), poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide), or a combination    thereof.-   7. An intraocular implant according to embodiment 4, wherein the    implant is effective for reducing IOP in a mammalian eye by 20-30%    for 5 months or more relative to the IOP in the eye before receiving    the implant.-   8. The implant of embodiment 4, wherein the therapeutic agent    represents at least about 1% but no more than about 8% of the    implant by weight.-   9. An implant according to any embodiments 1-8, wherein the implant    is produced by an extrusion process, and wherein the implant is    about 0.5 to about 2 mm in length, about 100 to about 500 μm in    diameter, and about 10 to about 200 μg in total weight.-   10. A method for reducing intraocular pressure in a patient,    comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a    therapeutic agent to the anterior chamber of an eye in the patient,    thereby reducing intraocular pressure in the eye, wherein the    therapeutic agent has the formula

-   11. A method for reducing intraocular pressure in a patient,    comprising placing an intraocular implant according to any of    embodiments 1-9 in an eye of the patient, thereby reducing    intraocular pressure in the eye for 5 months or more.-   12. The method of embodiment 10 or 11, wherein the patient is    suffering from, diagnosed with, or at risk of developing elevated    intraocular pressure or glaucoma.-   13. A method according to any of embodiments 11-12, wherein the    intraocular implant is placed in the anterior chamber of the eye in    the patient.-   14. A method according to any of embodiments 11-13, wherein the    intraocular implant reduces the intraocular pressure in the eye by    at least about 30%, relative to the intraocular pressure in the eye    before receiving the implant, for 3-5 months or more following    placement in the eye.-   15. A method for making a biodegradable intraocular implant    effective for reducing intraocular pressure in a patient, the    implant comprising or consisting of a biodegradable polymer material    and a therapeutic agent associated with the biodegradable polymer    material, wherein the therapeutic agent has the formula (Compound 1)

and wherein the method comprises in order I) obtaining Compound 1 in theform of a solid; II) blending said solid form of Compound 1 with abiodegradable polymer or two or more biodegradable polymers to form amixture, III) extruding the mixture to form a filament, and IV) cuttingthe filament to lengths suitable for placement in an ocular region of aneye, thereby forming the intraocular implant, wherein obtaining Compound1 in the form of a solid comprises

-   -   a) adding an oil form of Compound 1 to ethyl acetate (EtOAc) at        approximately 50° C. to form a mixture;    -   b) agitating the mixture of step a) at 50° C. to form a clear        solution;    -   c) cooling the clear solution of step b) to approximately 30° C.        for 1-3 hours;    -   d) adding a seed crystal of Compound 1 to the cooled solution of        step c);    -   e) maintaining the seeded solution of step d) at about 30° C.        for 1-3 hours;    -   f) cooling the seeded solution from step e) to a temperature of        from about 0-5° C. over the course of about 1-5 hours;    -   g) agitating the solution from step f) at a temperature of from        about 0-5° C. for 1-3 hours to form a suspension;    -   h) filtering the suspension at a temperature of between about        20° C. and 25° C. to thereby produce a solid form of Compound 1,        and

-   wherein the seed crystal of Compound 1 is prepared by the method    comprising    -   i) dissolving an oil form of Compound 1 in EtOAc at a        temperature of from about 35-40° C. to form a mixture;    -   ii) agitating the mixture of step i) at a temperature of from        about 35-40° C. to form a clear solution;    -   iii) cooling the clear solution of step ii) to a temperature of        from about 0-5° C. over the course of about 1-5 hours;    -   iv) agitating the cooled solution from step iii) a temperature        of from about 0-5° C. for 1-3 hours to form a white suspension;    -   v) filtering the white suspension from step iv) at a temperature        of between about 20° C. and 25° C. to thereby produce seed        crystal of Compound 1.

-   16. Another embodiment is a method for preparing a crystal form of    Compound 1 according to steps i-v, above.

Example 1 Comparison of IOP Lowering Activities of Prostamides In Vivo

Compound 1 falls within a class of compounds known collectively asprostamides (Woodward et al. (2007) British Journal of Pharmacology150:342-352).

A series of prostamides were selected as potential candidates for anintracameral biodegradable drug delivery system (e.g., an implant) andtested for their ability to lower IOP by direct administration to theaqueous humor (therefore, by intracameral administration). Table 1 liststhe EC₅₀ values (nM) obtained from the feline (cat) iris assay,calculated log P values (clog P), and IOP reduction values obtainedafter either topical or intracameral administration for differentprostamides. Intracameral drug administration was accomplished byplacing an infusion pump in the subcutaneous pocket in the neck of dogswith a cannula running into the anterior chamber of the eye. Test runswere carried out to measure and compare the concentration of thecompound in the solution exiting the pump with that initially added tothe pump in order to confirm the dosing level. As shown by Table 1,Compound 1 reduces IOP effectively and much more efficiently thanbimatoprost when administered intracamerally (directly to the anteriorchamber) to a normotensive dog eye.

The molecular structures of Compounds 3-5 are shown below. Disclosurerelating to Compounds 3-5, including synthetic methods, may be found inU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,602,900, 6,124,344, 5,834,498, and/or 5,688,819, as thecase may be. Reference may also be found in WO 95/18102, WO 96/36599 andWO 99/25358, US 2007/0099984, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,810, and Schusteret al. (2000) Mol. Pharmacol. 58:1511-1516.

TABLE 1 Prostamide/FP receptor and IOP-lowering activity of selectprostamides. Topical Intracameral Administration Administration Cat Iris(dogs)** (dogs)* Sphincter IOP Max IOP Assay*** Concentration reductionDose reduction Compound cLog P EC₅₀ (nM) % (w/v) (mm Hg) (ng/day) (%)Compound 3 2.0 34 0.01%  −3.6 108 ~45% (Bimatoprost) Compound 1 2.2 0.710.03% −5 15 ~35% Compound 5 1.9 20 0.01% −3 to −4 100 ~20% Compound 42.8 25 0.03% −3 15 <10% The symbol “~”means approximately The symbol “<”means less than cLog P (calculated log P) is a measure of thelipophilicity of the Compound. The partition coefficient (P) for eachCompound is determined by calculating the ratio of the equilibriumconcentrations of the dissolved unionized Compound in each phase of atwo-phase system consisting of n-octanol and water. *Test compounds wereadministered directly into the anterior chamber (intracamerally) atdoses ranging from 15 ng/day to 108 ng/day using an infusion pumpimplanted subcutaneously in the animals. Only the right eyes weresurgerized and dosed while the left eyes remained untreated to serve asthe control. The number of animals treated ranged from 3-5. Infusion oftest compounds to the right eyes was maintained for 2-3 weeks while IOPmeasurements were obtained from both eyes 3 times per week using aTonoVet tonometer. The % IOP lowering was calculated as the observedpercent difference in IOP at the time of measurement after initiation ofthe infusion compared to baseline prior to the start of the infusion. Adose level of 15 ng/day was selected for compounds of interest based onassumption of drug loading in an IC DDS and its size limitation giventhe intended site of dosing. **The effects of the compounds onintraocular pressure in dogs when administered topically to the eye wasmeasured. The compounds were prepared at the indicated concentrations ina vehicle comprising 0.1% polysorbate 80 and 10 mM TRIS base.Normotensive dogs were treated by administering 25 μL to the ocularsurface of one eye, the contralateral eye received vehicle as a control.Intraocular pressure was measured by applanation pneumotonometry. Dogintraocular pressure was measured immediately before drug administrationand at 6 hours thereafter. ***The prostamide/FP receptor activity ofeach compound was measured as a contraction of the isolated feline (cat)iris sphincter muscle.

Example 2 Biodegradable Intracameral Implants for Sustained Delivery ofCompound 1 In Vivo

Additional studies were undertaken to identify a biodegradableformulation that could be manufactured in the form of an extrudedimplant suitable for placement in the anterior chamber of an eye andcapable of providing near zero order release of Compound 1 for at leastthree months, and preferably for at least six months after placement inthe anterior chamber of the eye. A further requirement was that theimplant should be well tolerated by the eye, producing little if anyadverse reactions such as for example pain, redness, or inflammation.With these goals in mind, a series of extruded implants (including, forexample, Implants 1-9) were prepared and tested in vitro and in vivo, asdescribed below. The compositions, dimensions, and weights of Implants1-9 are given in Table 2. The biodegradable polymers used to prepare theimplants were selected from among the RESOMER® polymers available fromEvonik Industries, AG, and are designated according to their polymeridentification number in Table 2.

Manufacture of Implants Using a Twin Screw Extruder

Implants 1-4, 10, and 11 in Table 2 were manufactured by hot meltextrusion using a twin screw extruder (DSM Xplore 5 Micro Extruder) asfollows.

Prior to extrusion, a pure solid form of Compound 1 was prepared bydissolving the crude Compound 1 in ethyl acetate (EtOAc) atapproximately 50° C. and agitating at that temperature until a clearsolution was obtained. This clear solution was then slowly cooled to atemperature of approximately 30° C. over a period of time before seedingit with Compound 1 seed crystal. This solution was held at approximately30° C. for a period of time before cooling it down to 0-5° C. over a fewhours, and continuing to agitate it at that temperature for a period oftime. The suspension was then filtered at ambient temperature to affordpure Compound 1.

A seed crystal form of Compound 1 was prepared by dissolving the pureCompound 1 (an oil after chromatography purification) in EtOAc atapproximately 35-40° C. and agitating at that temperature until a clearsolution was obtained. This clear solution was then slowly cooled to atemperature of approximately 0-5° C. over a few hours, and then agitatedat that temperature for a period of time. A white suspension was formedand then filtered at ambient temperature to afford seed crystal ofCompound 1.

Before starting the extrusion, the polymer(s), a pure solid form ofCompound 1 (prepared as given above), and excipients, if any, wereblended to ensure uniformity. To uniformly blend the implant componentsbefore extrusion, Compound 1, polymer(s), and excipient (if present)were accurately weighed and transferred into a small stainless steelcontainer with two stainless steel balls. The materials were blendedusing a Turbula mixer for 20 to 45 minutes. The powder blend wasmanually mixed again with a spatula after blending. The DSM twin screwextruder was assembled and pre-heated to the desired extrusiontemperature (normally, between 60° C. to 100° C.). The blended materialwas then fed manually into the opening at the top of the barrel betweenthe two turning screws. The melt materials were conveyed down the barrelby the turning screws and extruded from a 500 μm nozzle. The diameter ofthe extruded filament was controlled by a Beta Lasermike puller that wasattached to the equipment. The diameter of filaments was adjusted bychanging the puller speed. The final diameter of the filament generallyranged from 0.006 inches to 0.025 inches. Extruded filaments were thencut to 5 to 10 inch lengths and collected into a storage tube. Thestorage tube was placed in an aluminum foil pouch with a desiccant andoxygen absorber combo pack, heat sealed, and stored in a −20° C.freezer.

Manufacture of Implants Using a Piston Extruder

Implants 5-9 in Table 2 were manufactured using a solvent casting/hotmelt extrusion method with a mechanically driven ram micro extruder(piston extruder). The drug substance (Compound 1, in the form of anoil), polymer(s) and excipients, if any, were dissolved together inethyl acetate to form a single solution. The solution was cast into aTEFLON® dish and dried overnight in a vacuum oven at 35° C. to form afilm. The film was ground into particles which were then placed into theheated well of a piston extruder and extruded into 200-250 μm diameterfilaments using a piston extruder at a temperature range of 45−85° C.through a 200 μm nozzle and a speed setting number of 0.0025. Smallerimplants were manufactured by using a smaller nozzle or pulling at afaster rate. Extruded filaments were cut into 5 inch lengths andcollected into a storage tube. The storage tube was placed in analuminum foil pouch with a desiccant and oxygen absorber combo pack,heat sealed, and stored in a −20° C. freezer. In vitro release rateassay

To measure the in vitro release rate and determine the cumulative invitro release profile of each implant formulation in a liquidenvironment, three 1.5 mm implants were cut from three randomly selectedfilaments from each lot of filaments for each formulation. Each implantwas placed into a 8 mL glass vial containing 3 mL of 0.01 M phosphatebuffered saline (pH 7.4) (release medium). The vials were then placedinto a shaking water bath set at 37° C. and 50 rpm. At various timepoints, the vials were removed from the bath and the entire volume ofrelease medium (3 mL) was removed and analyzed by HPLC for the totalamount of released prostamide. Immediately after removing the releasemedium from the vial, 3 mL of fresh phosphate buffered saline was addedto the vial and the vial was put back in the water bath for furtherincubation until the next sampling time point. A cumulative in vitrorelease curve (or profile) was constructed from the prostamide contentvalues obtained from the HPLC analysis.

The cumulative amount of compound released is expressed as a percent ofthe total amount of compound initially present in the implant. Todetermine the total amount of compound initially present in an implant,approximately 4 mg of each tested filament was weighed and transferredto a 5 mL volumetric flask. Next, 2.5 mL of acetonitrile was added toeach flask. The flasks were vortexed and swirled to completely dissolvethe filament. Water was then added to the flask to bring the volume to 5mL. After the flask was mixed well, approximately 1.5 mL of the solutionwas transferred to a microcentrifuge tube and centrifuged for 10 minutesat 12,000 rpm. A portion of the clear supernatant was transferred to aHPLC vial for analysis of the prostamide (for example, Compound 1)content.

In Vivo Intraocular Pressure (IOP) Lowering Studies

The IOP lowering effect of Implants 1-4 was tested in normotensive dogs.A total of eight normotensive dogs were treated with each implant. Inpreparation for in vivo IOP lowering studies, each implant (having thedimensions, weight, and composition set forth in Table 2) was loadedinto a needle-tipped delivery device (one implant per device). Theentire assembly (device and implant) was then sterilized with 20-25 kGyof electron beam radiation. Each dog received one implant in theanterior chamber of the right eye while the left eye were left untreatedto serve as the control. IOP measurements were obtained from both eyesbefore and post dosing at a frequency of 3 times per week for ˜5 monthspost dose. The % IOP lowering was calculated as the observed percentdifference in IOP at the time of measurement after dosing compared tobaseline. The average % reduction in IOP for the treated and untreatedeyes observed for each group of eight dogs are shown in FIGS. 5-8.Comparing in vivo duration of efficacy to the in vitro release profilefor Implants 1-4, it was clear that IOP lowering effect in normotensivedogs lasted much longer than what might have been expected based on theresults from the in vitro release studies, a surprising yet favorablefinding.

FIGS. 2-4 and 9 show the cumulative release profiles of Compound 1 fromeach of the implants listed in Table 2. The average daily amount(ng/day) of Compound 1 released from each implant over time in vitro islisted in Table 2. As shown by FIGS. 2 and 9, Implants 1-4 and 9released Compound 1 at a constant or near zero order rate continuouslywith little or no lag period for sustained periods. Implant 5 releasedlittle drug (Compound 1) in vitro during the first two months in releasemedium and then released a sharp burst of the drug equal to about 80% ofthe initial load (FIG. 5). Implant 6, similarly, failed to release anysignificant amount of drug even after two full months of incubation inthe release medium (FIG. 3).

In addition, it was found surprisingly that when the amount of Compound1 in the implant exceeded 8% by weight, implants produced a significantburst of drug release and/or provided very fast release rates that weregenerally considered to be unsuitable for the intended therapeutic uses.For example, implant 7 released about 55% of its drug load on day 1 withonly a modest amount of drug release thereafter (FIG. 4). Implant 8released over 70% of its drug load during the first two weeks in releasemedium (FIG. 4).

When tested in dogs, each of the four implants (Implants 1-4; see Table2) reduced intraocular pressure in the eye on average between 20% and30% from the baseline IOP, depending on the formulation (FIGS. 5-8). Theduration of the IOP-lowering effect in the eye produced by each of theprostamide (Compound 1)-containing implants, lasted for at least 120days after placement of the implant in the anterior chamber of the eye.

The stability of Compound 1 in Implant No. 3 (as measured by theformation of impurity following storage at 25° C. or 30° C. for 1.5months and 3 months) was improved by incorporating an antioxidant intothe formulation of Implant No. 3 (Implants 10 and 11). For example, theinclusion of 2.0% ascorbic acid with a corresponding adjustment in theweight percentage of the three polymers (as in Implant No. 11) decreasedthe % total impurity formed in the implant after 1.5 and 3 months ofstorage at 25° C. or 30° C. as compared to the % total impurity formedduring those periods in an implant having Formulation No. 3 (Table 3).Similarly, the inclusion of 2.0% butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and 0.5%EDTA with a corresponding adjustment in the weight percentage of thethree polymers (as in Implant No. 10) decreased the % total impurityformed in the implant after 1.5 and 3 months of storage as compared tothe % total impurity formed during those same periods in an Implanthaving Formulation No. 3 (Table 3). Thus, including an antioxidantenhances the stability of Compound 1, thereby extending the shelf lifeand preserving the potency of the manufactured implant. The inclusion ofEDTA, a metal chelating agent, may add to the stability. The percentcumulative in vitro release of Compound from each of Implants 10 and 11as compared to that of Implant 3 are shown in (FIG. 10).

TABLE 2 Extruded implants prepared and tested according to Example 2.Release Estimated Composition Implant rate release Implant (Formulation)Implant dimensions weight In vitro duration No. (% w/w) (diameter ×length) (μg) (ng/day) (months)  1 8.0% Compound 1 150 μm × 1.5 mm 36 293 92.0% R202H  2 8.0% Compound 1 200 μm × 1.5 mm 64 26 6 92.0% R203H  38.0% Compound 1 200 μm × 1.5 mm 64 34 4-5 51.7% R203S 23.0% RG752S 11.5%R202H 5.8% hexadecanol  4 8.0% Compound 1 200 μm × 1.5 mm 64 28 6 18.4%R203S 73.6% R203H  5 8.1% Compound 1 200 μm × 1.5 mm 64 ~0 for first91.9% RG755S 50 days  6 8.1% Compound 1 200 μm × 1.5 mm 64 ~0 91.9%R203S  7 12% Compound 1 200 μm × 1.5 mm 64 Day 1 49.5% R203S release:22.0% RG752S 4147 ng 11.0% R202H Next 3 5.5% PEG 3350 months: 21 ng/day 8 10% Compound 1 200 μm × 1.5 mm 64 224 1 90% R202H  9 8.0% Compound 1250 μm × 1.5 mm 100 80 3 92.0% R202H 10 8.0% Compound 1 200 μm × 1.5 mm64 35 3-5 50.3% R203S 22.4% RG752S 11.2% R202H 5.6% hexadecanol 2.0% BHA0.5% EDTA 11 8.0% Compound 1 200 μm × 1.5 mm 64 31 3-5 50.6% R203S 22.5%RG752S 11.3% R202H 5.6% hexadecanol 2.0% ascorbic acid RESOMER ® RG755Sis a poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) having an ester end group and aninherent viscosity of about 0.50-0.70 dl/g (as measured for a 0.1%solution in chloroform at 25° C.), and a D,L-lactide:glycolide molarratio of about 75:25. PEG 3350 = polyethylene glycol having an averagemolecular weight of 3,350. Hexadecanol = hexadecan-1-ol (cetyl alcohol)BHA = butylated hydroxyanisole EDTA = ethylenediaminetetraacetic acidCompound 1 is a prostamide having the following structure:

TABLE 3 Stability Study of Extruded Implants with and withoutantioxidants¹ % total impurity formed at 25° C./60% % total impurityformed at 30° C./65% Implant No. Relative humidity (Area %) Relativehumidity (Area %) (Formulation) Time = 0 1.5 months 3 months Time = 01.5 months 3 months 3 4.34 7.57 9.10 4.34 7.61 8.54 10 3.82 4.85 4.973.82 4.80 5.05 11 3.83 5.03 5.30 3.82 4.94 5.66 ¹Following manufacture,implants were stored in a sealed aluminum pouch containing a desiccantand oxygen absorber pack after the pouch was purged with nitrogen.

What is claimed is:
 1. A biodegradable intraocular implant comprising abiodegradable polymer material and a therapeutic agent associated withthe biodegradable polymer material, wherein the therapeutic agentcomprises a compound having the formula (III)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester prodrug thereof, whereinX is —OH or —N(R¹)₂, and wherein R¹ is independently selected from thegroup consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₆ alkyl, and wherein the implant iseffective for reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) in a mammalian eye. 2.A biodegradable intraocular implant according to claim 1, wherein thetherapeutic agent comprises a compound having the formula (IV)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester prodrug thereof, whereinX is —OH or —N(R¹)₂, wherein R¹ is independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydrogen and a C₁-C₆ alkyl.
 3. A biodegradable intraocularimplant according to claim 2, wherein the therapeutic agent comprises acompound having the formula (Compound 1)

wherein the implant is effective for reducing IOP in a mammalian eye for5 months or more after placement in the eye.
 4. A biodegradableintraocular implant according to claim 3, wherein the biodegradablepolymer material comprises a poly(D,L-lactide),poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide), or a combination thereof.
 5. Abiodegradable intraocular implant according to claim 4, wherein theimplant is effective for reducing IOP in a mammalian eye by 20-30% for 5months or more relative to the IOP in the eye before receiving theimplant.
 6. The implant of claim 5, wherein the therapeutic agentrepresents at least 1% but no more than 8% of the implant by weight. 7.A biodegradable intraocular implant according to claim 6, wherein theimplant is produced by an extrusion process, and wherein the implant is0.5 to 2 mm in length, 100 to 300 μm in diameter, and 10 to 200 μg intotal weight.
 8. A method for reducing intraocular pressure in apatient, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount ofa therapeutic agent directly into the anterior chamber of an eye in thepatient, thereby reducing intraocular pressure in the eye, wherein thetherapeutic agent has the formula


9. The method of claim 8, wherein the patient has elevated intraocularpressure, ocular hypertension, or glaucoma.
 10. The method of claim 9,wherein the intraocular implant reduces the intraocular pressure in theeye by at least 30%, relative to the intraocular pressure in the eyebefore receiving the implant, for 3-5 months or more following placementin the eye.